White noise for babies: Benefits and harms mothers should be aware of

White noise for babies is a method of using natural sounds to help your baby fall asleep faster. However, this method still has potential advantages and dangers that you may not be aware of. So please refer to the article below to safely use white noise for children!

What is white noise?

White noise is used as an effective relaxation remedy. Science has long proven that white noise helps us focus more and sleep better. Therefore, it is considered as an effective method to lull or train babies to sleep on time. If parents have used other methods that are not effective as expected.

These are the noises in nature such as: the sound of waves crashing, the sound of rain falling, the sound of a hair dryer, ... All these sounds are recorded at low frequency and played continuously. For example, if your baby is sleeping, but there is a loud voice around him, it can wake him up. At this time, the white noise will be effective to help the baby eliminate the surrounding noises and the baby will sleep more easily .

Benefits of white noise for babies

Help children fall asleep better

According to a recent study published on the Archives of Disease in Childhood page. A group of scientists have shown that white noise is very beneficial for children's sleep. When 40 children were involved in the trial with white noise . Unexpectedly babies can fall asleep just 5 minutes after hearing this sound.

Thus, if your baby is used to white noise. You will feel more secure when your baby can still sleep easily even in a crowded, noisy environment.

 

Babies fall asleep more easily thanks to the white noise

Reduce stress and help your baby relax

In fact, the fetus from the womb is able to hear and get used to sounds from the surrounding world. For example, the sounds inside the mother's body or the sounds when the mother is living, ... So white noise is like a familiar environment while in the womb. This will help the baby regain his composure and the mother will ease the baby's crying.

Masks other noises and stimulates the ability to focus 

In the case the baby shows signs of sleep, but the space has too many unpleasant noises. All you need is to let your baby hear white noise. Sounds emitted with a low frequency and repeated many times will help your baby cover up the surrounding noises and make it easier for the baby to sleep.

The harm of white noise on young children

Although white noise is a good way to lull your baby to sleep. However, experts recommend this only to be used as a temporary solution. Because if overuse has a lack of safety, combined with the potential dangers of white noise can have a negative impact on children.

Affects language ability and hearing disorders in children

In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tested 14 infant white noise generators. The results showed that all exceeded 50 decipenes, compared to the limit for audible sound.

 

Keep the sound low and at least 20cm away

Therefore, pediatricians recommend that the noisy machine should be kept at least 20cm away from children. And should adjust small volume when using lullaby to sleep. Overuse can increase the risk of a child's sleep and hearing disorders.

Causing tinnitus, dementia in children

According to researchers at Posit Science Group in the US said. Exposure to white noise can change the brain's nerve connections. These are the auditory connections that help us perceive sounds. Therefore, if you let your child listen to too much white noise, some diseases such as tinnitus, even dementia, can occur in the child.

Children will be dependent on long term

If overused, children will depend on white noise before being able to sleep. For example, when your family is on vacation or over to grandparents' house, the baby can only sleep when hearing white noise. And this is definitely very inconvenient for your family in the future.

So, you should not overdo this type of sound to comfort your baby to sleep anytime, anywhere.

Sometimes it becomes useless if the baby doesn't like it

In fact, using white noise to lull your baby to sleep is not always effective. Because each baby will have a different way of sleeping on their own, such as chirping or listening to lullaby, ... So this method will be useless if your baby doesn't like it. This leads to irritability and fussiness, which makes it even more difficult to lull your baby to sleep.

 

Some babies will not like white noise and annoying crying

In conclusion, white noise should only be a measure to help children sleep if absolutely necessary. So it's best not to overdo it. Start practicing for your child to sleep habits naturally, which will help him develop healthier.

See more:

Baby lullabies help babies sleep well and develop the best brain

Effective way to lull your baby to sleep with just 40 seconds

Comfort your baby to sleep well by sleeping with him, should or not?